Tuesday 22 March 2011

Trunk Growth Factors

Leonardo da Vinci has some things to say about this :


All the branches of a tree at every stage of its height when put together are equal in
thickness to the trunk below them.


and this :

Every year when the boughs of a plant [or tree] have made an end of maturing their growth, they will have made, when put together, a thickness equal to that of the main stem; and at every stage of its ramification you will find the thickness of the said main stem.


Towards the end of the season we will see - if this is correct i will get some lovely results. Several of my trees have increased hugely in ramification this year already. The Oak is as usual is leading the pack - but the maples are looking strong too. I wonder if the defoliation and doubling of fine twigs on the maples will have an effect. So much still to learn.

Monday 14 March 2011

Outdoor Deployment


Ive been watching the weather - very few frosts left hopefully so I'l start to place the trees outside on their spots on the lawn. Cat likes this very much as they give her great cover for birdwatching. The little villain has never caught a bird - but she does like to watch them.

This is a kiyo hime maple that i picked up several years ago at the local nursery and felt sorry for- so i adopted it. Never intended to grow maples - but i seem to be quite good at it.

Il keep the big pines under glass as while longer for them to recover from the repotting. 

This is another maple - i picked up this one as a silly potplant for my desk at work - i got it at the exit of M&S while buying a sandwich for lunch. In a square plastic pot like this one below. It was never intended as a serious bonsai and now its starting to look quite nice. I suppose I'l keep it going and see where it ends up. Ive had it 4 years now - and its on its second year in that pot.

Good starter material for the patient.

Fresh oak leaves


I love the color of fresh spring oak leaves.